And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Thankfulness Comes From Peace

A thankful heart is born from a spirit of contentment realizing that all blessings come from God and He rules in all the affairs of men. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year to spend with family, enjoy culinary delights and reflect on the bountiful measures of prosperity afforded this great land. It is a time of giving and sharing. To fully appreciate the value of Thanksgiving, God must be at the center. When George Washington proclaimed the day of thanksgiving, he impressed upon all citizens the message that the struggling nation was granted prosperity by the hand of the “great Lord and ruler of nations.” He called God the “beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Abraham Lincoln would later declare the blessing of Thanksgiving as “thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.” In all matters of thanksgiving, the Lord must be at the center.

Thanksgiving is a daily remembrance. True hearts of thanksgiving come from the peace of God that rules the heart. The calm assurance of the hand of the Lord in all the affairs of life brings a solace springing forth a bounty of thankfulness. God’s peace is the measure of faith that relies upon the thankful heart. Trusting in the will of the Lord to guide each step is where true thankfulness arises. It is hard to be thankful when fear, worry and doubt darken the way. Reading the word of God establishes faith. When faith is born in knowledge of the majesty of God’s power hope begins to soar. As the heart is lifted from the travails of this world, the spirit of man is filled with thanksgiving. He recognizes the power of the Lord in the affairs of man and his trust is in the will of God. The peace of God guides the heart to the table of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to enjoy the bounties of the land. Tables are filled with an overflowing of foods and delights of the palate. It should not be forgotten that a great deal of work went into preparing this feast. To enjoy the blessings one must remember the diligent effort put forth to make it all possible. If there was a similar spirit of activity to the spiritual body, how much more thanksgiving would be found every day as the peace of God rules the heart and mind. The peace of God comes from hearts that are prepared each day to trust in the Lord. It is a lot of work but the rewards are endless. His peace guards the heart from evil and the body of Christ is magnified as souls are united in the common purpose of the Lord. The joy of eternal life is the focus of thankful hearts. No day can be dismissed without a bounty of thankfulness to a God who gave his son to die for the sins of all men. Real thanksgiving comes from the knowledge Jesus died on the cross and he arose. Thank God for his great and wonderful gift. Happy Thanksgiving today and every day.